Virtual design, inspect and grind optimization process

Abstract

A method for virtual machining and inspection of a three-dimensional virtual workpiece representative of an actual workpiece comprising: creating a three-dimensional tool model; defining a tool path through the virtual workpiece; creating a plurality of two-dimensional slices from the three-dimensional tool model; and passing each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices along the tool path and through the virtual workpiece; wherein material from the virtual workpiece coming into contact with each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices passed there through is subtracted from the virtual workpiece; and conducting a virtual inspection of the virtual work piece.

1. A computer implemented method for virtual machining and inspection of a three-dimensional virtual workpiece model representative of an actual workpiece comprising:
 creating a three-dimensional tool model; 
 defining a tool path through the virtual workpiece model; 
 creating a plurality of two-dimensional slices from said three-dimensional tool model; and 
 passing each of said plurality of two-dimcnsional slices along said tool path and through the virtual workpiece model; 
 wherein material from the virtual workpiece model coming into contact with each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices passed therethrough is subtracted from the virtual workpiece model; and 
 conducting a virtual inspection of said virtual work piece model, comprising; generating an inspection line, said inspection line being used to intersect with the virtual workpiece model, to define an inspection point; 
 wherein said inspection line is swept through a selected area of the virtual workpiece model, thereby collecting inspection data for the workpiece. 
 
     
     
       2. The mcthod of  claim 1 , furthcr comprising positioning said three-dimensional tool model at one end of said tool path prior to creating said plurality of two-dimensional slices. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of two-dimensional slices arc taken along corresponding slice planes, each of said slice planes being parallel to one another. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said three-dimensional tool model is positioned at said one end of said tool path at a reference point of said three-dimensional tool model. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating said inspection line further comprises:
 defining a set of master reference planes; 
 defining a set of positioning planes with respect to said set of master reference planes; and 
 defining a pair of intersecting cutting planes from said set of positioning planes; 
 wherein said inspection line is defined at the intersection of said pair of intersecting cutting planes. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein said pair of intersecting cutting planes further comprise:
 a first cutting plane, said first cutting plane being rotatable about a first axis; and 
 a second cutting plane, said second cutting plane being rotatable about a second axis; 
 wherein rotation of said first cutting plane determines a path position of said inspection line, and rotation of said second cutting plane determines a contact angle between said inspection line and the virtual workpiece model. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said first axis is defined by the intersection between a first positioning plane and a second positioning plane. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said second axis is defined by the intersection between a third positioning plane and a fourth positioning plane, said fourth positioning plane being perpendicular to said first cutting plane. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said defining a tool path through the virtual workpiece model further includes employing a horizontally constructed coordinate system to define a plurality of points indicative of a desired tool path. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  further including linking at least one of said virtual workpiece model; said three-dimensional tool model; and said tool path through the virtual workpiece model to a template file. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 unlinking at least one of said virtual workpiece model, said three-dimensional tool model, and said tool path through the virtual workpiece model, from the template file; and 
 relinking at least one of another virtual workpiece model, another three-dimensional tool model, and another tool path through the virtual workpiece model to the template file, respectively. 
 
     
     
       12. A storage medium, comprising:
 a machine readable computer program code for virtual machining and inspection of a three-dimensional virtual workpiece model representative of an actual workpiece; and 
 instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, the method further comprising; 
 creating a three-dimensional tool model; 
 defining a tool path through the virtual workpiece model; 
 creating a plurality of two-dimensional slices from said three-dimensional tool model; and 
 passing each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices along said tool path and through the virtual workpiece model; 
 wherein material from the virtual workpiece model coming into contact with each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices passed there through is subtracted from the virtual workpiece model; and 
 conducting a virtual inspection of said virtual work piece model, comprising: generating an inspection line, said inspection line being used to intersect with the virtual workpiece model to define an inspection point;
 wherein said inspection line is swept through a selected area of the virtual workpiece model, thereby collecting inspection data for the workpiece. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The storage medium of  claim 12 , further comprising positioning said three-dimensional tool model at one end of said tool path prior to creating said plurality of two-dimensional slices. 
     
     
       14. The storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein generating said inspection line further comprises:
 defining a set of master reference planes; 
 defining a set of positioning planes with respect to said set of master reference planes; and 
 defining a pair of intersecting cutting planes from said set of positioning planes; 
 wherein said inspection line is defined at the intersection of said pair of intersecting cutting planes. 
 
     
     
       15. The storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein said pair of intersecting cutting planes further comprise:
 a first cutting plane, said first cutting plane being rotatable about a first axis; and 
 a second cutting plane, said second cutting plane being rotatable about a second axis; 
 wherein rotation or said first cutting plane determines a path position of said inspection line, and rotation of said second cutting plane determines a contact angle between said inspection line and the virtual workpiece model. 
 
     
     
       16. The storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein said defining a tool path through the virtual workpiece model further includes employing a horizontally constructed coordinate system to define a plurality of points indicative of a desired tool path. 
     
     
       17. The storage medium of  claim 12  further including linking at least one of said virtual workpiece model; said three-dimensional tool model; and said tool path through the virtual workpiece model to a template file. 
     
     
       18. The storage medium of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 unlinking at least one of said virtual workpiece model, said three-dimensional tool model, and said tool path through the virtual workpiece model, from the template file; and 
 relinking at least one of another virtual workpiece model, another three-dimensional tool model, and another tool path through the virtual workpiece model, respectively, to the template file. 
 
     
     
       19. A computer data signal embodied in a computer readable medium, comprising:
 code configured to cause a processor to implement a method for virtual machining and inspection of a three-dimensional virtual workpiece model representative of an actual workpiece, the method further comprising: 
 creating a three-dimensional tool model; 
 defining a tool path through the virtual workpiece model; 
 creating a plurality of two-dimensional slices from said three-dimensional tool model; and 
 passing each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices along said tool path and through the virtual workpiece model; 
 wherein material from the virtual workpiece model coming into contact with each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices passed therethrough is subtracted from the virtual workpiece model; and 
 conducting a virtual inspection of said virtual work piece model, comprising: generating an inspection line, said inspection line being used to intersect with the virtual workpiece model to define an inspection point; 
 wherein said inspection line is swept through a selected area of the virtual workpiece model, thereby collecting inspection data for the workpiece. 
 
     
     
       20. The computer data signal of  claim 19 , further comprising positioning said three-dimensional tool model at one end of said tool path prior to creating said plurality of two-dimensional slices. 
     
     
       21. The computer data signal of  claim 19 , wherein generating said inspection line further comprises:
 defining a set of master reference planes; 
 defining a set of positioning planes with respect to said set of master reference planes; and 
 defining a pair of intersecting cutting planes from said set of positioning planes; 
 wherein said inspection line is defined at the intersection of said pair of intersecting cutting planes. 
 
     
     
       22. The computer data signal of  claim 21 , wherein said pair of intersecting cutting planes further comprise:
 a first cutting plane, said first cutting plane being rotatable about a first axis; and 
 a second cutting plane, said second cutting plane being rotatable about a second axis; 
 wherein rotation of said first cutting plane determines a path position of said inspection line, and rotation of said second cutting plane determines a contact angle between said inspection line and the virtual workpiece model. 
 
     
     
       23. The computer data signal of  claim 19 , wherein said defining a tool path through the virtual workpiece model furthcr includes employing a horizontally constructed coordinate system to define a plurality of points indicative of a desired tool path. 
     
     
       24. The computer data signal of  claim 19  further including linking at least one of: said virtual workpiece model; said three-dimensional tool model; and said tool path through the virtual workpiece model to a template file. 
     
     
       25. The computer data signal of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 unlinking at least one of said virtual workpiece model, said three-dimensional tool model, and said tool path through the virtual workpiece model from the template file; and 
 relinking at least one of another virtual workpiece model, another three-dimensional tool model, and another tool path through the virtual workpiece model, respectively, to the template file.